There's something about a Caribbean island that is just fundamentally different from the rest of the world. Maybe it's the excitement and isolation of being on a tiny hump of land surrounded by all that water. Maybe it's the sense of community that develops when that many people share the same small piece of earth. Maybe it's the wind in the palm trees, or the surf on the coral, or the impossible blue-green-aqua-turquoise color of the water. I don't know. It's just a completely different way of thinking and being, and you're a lot more likely to have a good time if you prepare yourself mentally.
Take a deep breath, slow your brain, ditch your schedule and lower your expectations about everything from the true meaning of the phrase, "in ten minutes," to the level of health standards in the grocery store, to the quality of wiring found in the luncheria five blocks off the waterfront. Like I said, things are different here. Stress, worry, hurry; they are four-letter words here. People move slower and may not move at all if it's the middle of the day and the sun is hot (which it almost always is). Many local businesses are closed on Sundays. It takes something big, I mean really big, to be considered a crisis. And much of what happens is determined by the weather.

If it's too wavy, the port can be closed and dive and snorkel boats don't go. It doesn't matter that they were scheduled. If the wind turns around and comes from the west instead of the east, things cool down in town and more tourists than usual clog the streets, strolling from shop to shop, looking for treasure. If an offshore storm causes huge waves on the east coast, your dive master could ditch you to go surfing instead. Hey, they hardly ever get great waves on Cozumel in the winter. For me, this is part of the charm of the island, but it also means that you could be in for a few surprises.

The weather affects everyday living conditions too. The temperature rarely falls below 70 degrees and it seldom rains much during the tourist season. So the buildings, even the hotels, are built accordingly. The windows and doors don't need to fit tight, in fact they need to breathe. Roofs aren't made of shingles. Many eating areas are outside.

Typically, you get what you pay for, but I've had things go wrong at a five-star resort just as often as they have at a bargain hotel. If it does happen to rain, your roof could leak, especially if it is thatched instead of tile or concrete. Flies and mosquitoes can land in your food. Heck, you might even end up with bugs or perhaps a small iguana in your room. (Read about my iguana adventure!)

But in the big picture, these things are minor. Don't let them ruin your vacation. Smile, listen to the waves on the beach or breath in the salt air and remind yourself you're lucky enough to be relaxing on a Caribbean island. Things are a bit more primitive, wild, even backward, from what we're used to and that's the point. Suddenly things take on a different perspective. It's all about your state of mind!

Donít let fear of the unknown keep you from experiencing Cozumel's beautiful underwater world. This truly is one of the most unforgettable aspects of the island and there is more than one way to experience this!